Egg carton



BURGER EGG CARTON Aug. 26, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 21, 1945 |l|ll||||l| lnllll l-llllJ-lllll-llilllllilll Ill lllll.

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M. BURGER EGG CARTON Aug. 26, 1952 Filed NOV 21 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR. fihmrzfizzcgez M. BURGER EGG CARTON villi :lTliilFvlillil- Amfmu wrmw H138 m Aug. 26, 1952 Flled Nov 21 1945 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG CARTON Martin Burger, Morris, 11]., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Shellmar Products Corporation,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application November 21, 1945, Serial No. 630,092

fabricated from a one-piece paper board blank,

It is a general object of the invention to provide a carton of the type described which consumes a small amount of material; which has relatively great resistance to crushing pressures; which can be manufactured by automatic machinery; which isreadily and quickly erected, either manually or by automatic set-up devices, from a compact fiat collapsed form to operative erected position; and which, when set up, furnishes a cushioned support for eggs or like fragile articles positioned therein.

A further and more specific object is to provide a fiber board egg carton including a longitudinal partition and a plurality of transverse partitions subdividing the same into a plurality of cells, each of which cells has a cushioned bottom supported vertically by downwardly extending projections on the longitudinal partition carrying lateral elements in sustaining engagement with the carton bottom; and in which said sustaining elements serve to maintain the longitudinal par- L tition in locked relation to the bottom.

Yet a further specific object of the invention is to provide an egg carton of the type described including a partition means having bottom supporting and cushioning elements thereon, plus vertically upstanding elements engageable by the carton cover to support the latter and resist cushioning forces applied thereto.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, but

other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upona full understand ingv of the construction and operation of the device.

.Two embodiments of the invention are presented herein for the purpose of exemplification, butit'will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

. In the drawings,

. Fig.u1 is a plan view of a cardboard orppaper board blank from which the cartonofthe invention is fabricated, illustrating the method of dieing out, aperturing, slitting and scoring or creasing the blank to afford the inventive features to be described;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank of Fig. 1 with portions thereof folded during the manufacture of the article;

i Fig. 3 is a plan view of the carton in the fiat,

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-28)" collapsed or knocked-down condition in which it is shipped; v r l l Fig. 4 is an end view of the fully set-up 'carton;

Fig. 5 is a View in longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. 4;, v

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the blank employed in accordance with a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 illustrates the blank of Fig; 6 prelim+ inarily folded in the manufacturethereoff Fig. 8 is a plan'view illustrating the carton in flat, knocked-down condition;

Fig. 9 is an'end view of the set-up cartonin accordance with the aforementioned .modified embodiment; and l l l U 4 Fig. 10 is afragmentary sectional view taken on the line ill-l0 of Fig. 9. l

The present invention resides in improvements in-the partition and bottom construction of the paper board'carton employed in the packing of eggs, said cartonbeingof the type subdivided by a longitudinal partition and transverse vertically swingablecross partitions into a plurality of rows of article receiving cells. Said improvements deal specifically Withthe provision. of supporting means on the longitudinal partition'extending downwardly therefrom through appropriate apertures in the carton body and conformed laterally in a manner and shape to sustain the carton at its longitudinal mid point above asupporting surface, thereby affording a cushioned support for the eggs and at thesametime locking longitudinal partition to the bottom.

In fabricatinga carton of this type, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a generally rectangular blank H] of the type illustrated in Fig. l is employed. This blank is longitudinally creased or scored to provide acover panel. ll hingedly articulated respectively by creases l2, [3 on one side to a closure flap l4 having conventional locking tabs I5 thereon, and at the other side to a carton rear wall panel 16. Said rear wall panel is in turn hinged by a scored or creased fold line H to one side of a bottom section which is generally designated la. The opposite margin of said last named section is defined by the fold line l9. l

Section I 8 is subdivided into rear and front bottom portions 20, 2 I, respectively, by a medial row of aligned scores or creases 22 extending longitudinally thereof, and rectangular apertures 23 of predetermined length and width are provided along said row at spaced points longitudinally the thereof, said apertures being located for the-most part in the rear bottom portion 20 but intersecting the score line 22 for a purpose to be described. The bottom portions 2!), 21 are also each provided with a pair of elongated, transversely extending slots 25 adjacent the ends thereof in which certain of the cross partitions to be described are longitudinally restrained when the carton is fully erected.

A front wall panel 25 is conjoined to the front bottom portion 21 by the hinge line- 59 and at its opposite margin said front wall in turn has hingedly articulated thereto one edge of a pin.- rality of cross partitions 25, the linearly spaced, short crease or score lines 2? serving as hinges for this connection. Further transverse hinges 28 normal to lines 21 serve to articulate the cross partitions 26 for vertical swinging into upright erected position in a conventional fashion. At the side of the partitions opposite the hinge lines 21 the same are similarly hinged to a longitudinal partition panel, generally designated 28, by creases or scores similar to the creases or scores 21, hence designated 2?. Transverse hinge lines 28- similar to the transverse hinge lines 28 serve to swingably articulate the crosspartitionsto the longitudinal partition panel 29. a

A plurality of further cross partition members 30 are disposed onthe side of partition panel 21 opposite the partition members 26, being articulated thereto in identical fashion, 1. e., by a longitudinally aligned series of creases or scores 3| which are similar in all particulars to the scores or creases 27; the cross partitions 36 are similarly hinged for vertical swinging to, erected position on. transverse. creased hinge lines 32 identical with the lines 28. As a final element, an attaching strip 33 is hinged tothe cross partitions 30 on the creases 3| corresponding to the hinge lines 31, with transverse scored hinges 32 like the hinges 32 to accommodate swinging of the cross partitions to vertical erected position.

It will be noted that on each. side thereof the lateral margin of the longitudinal partition panel is defined in part by parallel, angled slits 34 and a connecting slit 34', said slits 34,34 extending into the material of the cross partitions 2'6, 30,

respectively, and outlining the projecting tongues 35. The cross partitions are appropriately slitted, so as to free the same from front wall panel 25. partition. panel 29 and attaching strip 33 for vertical swinging movement by further slitting provisions of a conventional nature, as illustrated, but not necessary to describe in detail. It will be noted that the partition panel 2 9 is subdivided longitudinally atits' mid point by a series of creases or scores 39 on which the panel is feldabl'e to define the laterally abutting, side-by-side partition members 40, 4| when the carton is fully fabricated. The panel is further slitted or died out along said line of creases to provide bottom locking and supporting T-Shaped elementsL-Z including a laterally extending neck 43 integral with the partition member 40 having enlarged arms or wings 44, the latter being cut out of the material of the other partition member 4!. The heads of these T-shaped members are defined by longitudinal slits generally designated 45 and a pair of triangular apertures 4t, one'on either side of neck 43, in a manner which will be apparent.

It should be noted with particularity that the necks 43 intersect the line'of scores {it so that when the partition panel 219 is folded al'ongsaid line to bring the elements 4B, 4'! into adjacent, parallel, side-by-side relation, the enlarged'wings 44 of the elements 42 extend a substantial distance (see Fig. 2) beyond the margin of the thus con- 4, stituted double-ply longitudinal partition. It should also be noted that the longitudinal dimension of the enlarged ends of the T-shaped elements is greater than the corresponding dimension of apertures 23 in bottom section [8.

In completing the manufacture of the above carton, the blank is folded back upon the scored hinge lines 21, thereby bringingithe row of cross partitions 26, the partition panel 29 and the row of cross partitions 30 into superposition over the front wall panel 25, the bottom panel 18 and the rear wall panel l6, respectively. The partition panel 29 is then reversely folded along its medial line of scores 39, to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the partition member 4| overlie the other partition'member 48 in parallel, side engagement therewith. By means of previously applied adhesive the partition members 4i), 4! on opposite sides of creases 39 are secured to one another to define a two-ply partition, In such position, the T-shaped projecting elements 42 are disposed adjacent the laterally aligned apertures 23 in the bottom panel. The enlarged Wings '44 are then inserted. into said adjacent apertures, bending the Wings 44 for this purpose. It may be desirable to provide transverse scores 41 at the junction of the wings 44 with the neck 43 to facilitate such insertion of the enlargement in the apertures. So inserted, the lateral wings spring back under the inherent flexibility of the material, to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein said projections serve to eifectively lock the longitudinal partition elements 49, 4i to the bottom panel l8.

The thus folded members are then folded again on hinge line 22 to the final position shown in Fig. 3 and attaching strip 33 is secured to the rear wall It adjacent the top margin 13 thereof by suitable fastening means, as, for example, a line of adhesive 48 applied to the attaching strip. This completes the manufacture of the carton, the same being in a flat, folded knocked-down condition adapted for storage or shipment.

To set up the carton, it is only necessary to grasp the same manually or with automatic machinery for this purpose, in a manner to force the projecting elements 42 and central portion of the bottom panel [8 upwardly, whereupon the front and rear walls are swung outwardly, the bottom bending along its medial line 22 as the enlargements 44 of said elements engage beneath and. elevate the same. When the walls are expended in this manner, the cross partitions 26, 30 are swung downwardly around their respective transverse. hinge lines 28, 28 and 32, 32' whereupon the wedging actions of these cross partitions will complete the erection of the carton and sustain the same laterally. The bottom margins of the endmost cross partitions are engaged in the slots 24 at the ends of the bottom forming sections 2|, to provide a positive lock at these points against upward collapse of the cross partitions. In this erected condition, downwardly projecting elements 42 not only act as medial legs engageable with a supporting surface in the manner shown'in Figs. 4 and 5, and sustain the downwardly to the bottom for increased rigidity of the carton. The adhesively secured, upwardly projecting tongues 35 extend above the cross partitions to afford a support medially engageable tition member I.

with thecove'r to sustain the same againstundue crushing stresses. l

In 'Fig. 6 through 10 a' slightly modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated which. however, incorporates all of the advantages of the form in Fig. 1 through 5. Like referencenumerals indicate like parts. Specifically, infthis' form the partition panel 49 is subdivided into partition elements 50, 5| by the longitudinally extending rowof score or crease lines 52, and these creases are located widthwise of the carton at the ends of the projecting enlarged bottom supporting elements 53. Said elements are integrally connected to partition member 50, being outlined by the relatively large, generally rectangular apertures 54 spaced longitudinally of the carton. These apertures are died out to extend equal distances into the adjacent partition members 50, 5| on opposite sides of the scores 52, rather than being cut exclusively from one of said members, as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 tot inclusive. Creases 52 hingedly connect tli heads of the T-eleme'nts 53 with strap elements 55 which are integral extensions of par- :The manner of completing the folding of the carton is identical to that discussed in connection'with Figs. 1 to 5 and it will be noted that, upon folding of the partition panel 49 along the scores 52, there isprovided a double-ply, downaifords a stronger bottom locking and sustaining element of double-plythickness, as compared to the single-ply elements illustrated in Figs. 1 throu'gh'5. l While bottom sustaining and locking members of T configuration have been illustrated, it will be understood that this form may be altered considerably within the-scope of the invention, so long as a single or double-ply member is provided extending downwardly from the longitudinal partition through an opening in the carton bot tom, having a lateral enlargement to hook beneath the latter in cushioning and supporting relation thereto. 7 f l 1. An egg carton adapted to be erected from an assembledbut relatively flat knock-down condition to an erected condition, comprising front and rear walls, a bottom extending therebetween and medially creased longitudinally of said walls to be disposed at its mid point above the lower margins of said walls in erected condition of the carton, cross partition members hinged to said respective walls adjacent the upper marginthereof, and a double-ply longitudinal partition hingedly connected to said cross partitions, said partition: members being hinged to said respective walls and to said longitudinal partition, by integral hinged portions which are disposed in horizontal coplanar position in said erected condition, said cross partition members being adapted to be swung downwardly to cell-defining position in said erected condition, said bottom having apertures therein adjacent and intersecting said medial score line and said longitudinal partition being provided with a plurality of T-shaped projecting elements extending downwardly through said apertures in said erected condition, the lateral enlargements of said T-shaped elements being of greater cross dimension than the corresponding dimension of the aperture which they engage and being sustainingly engageable said bottom when the carton is in said relatively flat, collapsed condition.

2. An'egg carton'adapt'ed to be erected from: an assembled but relatively flat knock-down con-' dition to an erected condition, comprising front and rear walls; a bottom extending therebetween which is adapted to be 'supported'mediallyi above the lower margins of said walls in erected condition of the carton, cross partition" members hinged to said respective walls adjacent the uppermargin thereof, and a double-ply longitudinal'partition hingedly connected to said cross partitions, said cross partition members being adapted to be swung downwardly to cell-defim ing position in said erected'condition, said bottom having apertures of substantial size therein adjacent and at one side of said medial'score line, said longitudinal partition at its lower edge being provided with *a* plurality of double-ply projecting elements having laterally directed bendable wings extending downwardly "of the partition through said apertures in said erected condition and sustainingly interlocking with the bottom to'support the same in elevated position,

said elements being interengaged with said bot tom when the carton is insaid relatively flat;

collapsed condition.

3jAn egg carton adapted to be erected from an assembled but relatively flat knock+down condition to an erected condition, comprising front and rear walls, a bottom extending therebetween which is medially creasedlongitudinallyofsaid walls and adapted to 'be supported medially above .the lower margins of said walls in erected condition of the carton, cross partition members having hinge portions, connecting the" same to said respective walls adjacent the upper margin thereof, and a double-ply longitudinal partition, said cross partition members having hinge portions connecting the same to said longitudinal partition, said cross partition members being adapted to be swung'downwardly to cell-defining position insaid erected condition, said hinge connecting portions extending in'a plane generally horizontal'r-elative tosaid side walls and said longitudinal partition,'said bottom having apertures of substantial size therein adjacent and intersecting the medial crease thereof but located for the most part on one side of said crease, said longitudinal partition at its lower edge being provided with a plurality of double-ply'projecb ing. elements extending downwardly of the partition through said apertures in said erected condition and said projecting elementshaving enlarged extremities whichare sustainingly engageable with the bottom along saidcrease to support thesame' in elevated position. 1 1 i w 4;: An egg carton adapted tobe erected from an assembled but relatively fiat knockdown-con dition to an erected condition, comprising front and rear walls, a bottom extending therebetween which is medially creased longitudinally of said walls and adapted to be supported medially above the lower margins of said walls in erected condition of the carton, cross partition members having hinge portions connecting the same to said respective walls adjacent the upper margin thereof, and a double-ply longitudinal partition, said cross partition members having hinge portions connecting the same to said longitudinal partition, said cross partition members being adaptedto be swung downwardly to cell-defining bottom" having apertures of substantial size therein adjacent and intersecting the medial crease thereofbut: located for the. most part on one sidepfsaid crease, said longitudinal partition at its lower edge being provided with a-plurality of double-ply projecting elements extending. downwardly of the partition through said apertures insaid erected condition andasustainingly engageable with "theybottom along said crease to support thesame inv elevated position, said elements being interengaged with said bottorn when. the carton is ,in said relatively flat, collapsed condition 1 5. An, egg carton adapted to be erected from an'assembled but relatively flat knock-down condition to an erected condition, comprising front and rear walls, a bottom extending therebetween which is medially creased-longitudinally ofsaid walls and adapted to be supported medially above the lower margins of said walls in erected condition ofthe' carton, cross partition members having hinge portions connecting the same to said respective walls adjacent the upper margin thereof, and a double-ply longitudinal partition, said cross partition members having hingeportions connecting the same. to said longitudinal partition, said cross partition members being adaptedto be swung downwardly to cell-defining position in said erected condition, said hinge connecting portions extending in a plane generally horizontal, relative to said sidewalls and said longitudinal partition, said longitudinal partition including double-ply projections extending above said cross partition hinge portions, said projections being excised outof the material of the cross partition forming panels, said bottom having apertures of substantialsize therein .adjac'ent and intersectingthe medial crease thereof but located for the most part on one' side of said crease, said longitudinal partition at its lower edge being provided with a plurality-of'doubleply projecting elements extending downwardly of the partition through, said apertures in said erected condition and sustainingly' engageable with the bottomv along said crease to support the same'in elevated position, said elements being interengaged with said bottom whenthe carton is in saidrelatively flat, collapsed condition.

6.An egg carton adapted to be erected'from an assembled, but relatively flat, knock-down condition to an erected condition, comprising front and rear walls, a bottom extendingtherebetween which is medially creased longitudinally of said walls and adapted to be supported medially above the lower margins of said walls in erected condition of the carton, cross partition members having hinge portions connecting the same to 8': said respective walls adjacent'the upper margin thereof, and a double-ply longitudinal partition,

s said cross partition members having hinge portions .connectingthe same to said longitudinalpartition, said cross partition members being adapted to be swung downwardly to cell-defining position in said erected condition, said'hinge connecting portions extending in a plane generally horizontal relative to said side walls and said longitudinalpartition, said bottom having apertures-therein adjoining the medial crease thereof, said longitudinal partition being provided at its lower edge with a plurality of projecting elements extending downwardly of the partition through said apertures in said erected condition,

and said projecting elements having enlarged ex- ,tremities which are sustainingly 'engageable with said bottom along said crease to support the bottom in elevated position, said elements being interengaged with said bottom when the carton is in relatively fiat,collapsedcondition;

'7;'An egg carton adapted to be erected from an assembled'but relatively fiat knock-down con dition to an erectedcondition, comprisingfront and rear walls, a bottom extending therebetween which is provided with a mediaLlongitudinally extending score line and adapted tobesupported medially along said score line above the lower margins oisaid walls in erected condition of the carton, cross partition members disposed be tween' said walls, and a double-ply longitudinal partition hingedly associated with-said crosszpartitions, said cross partition members being foldable about horizontal hinge lines into c-ell-defin-' ing position normal to said longitudinal partition in said erected condition, said bottom having apertures therein adjacent said medial'score line, said longitudinal partition at its lower edge be, ing provided with a plurality of projecting elements having reduced'neck portions, said projecting elements extending downwardly of' the partition through said apertures in said erected condition, the end portions'of said elements being enlarged andbeing sustainingly engageable at the enlargement thereof with the bottom to support the same in elevated position, said projecting elements being interengaged with said bottom when the carton is in flat, knock-down, as well asin erected condition. l MARTIN BURGER.

I a pearances CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Blau- Jan. 10, 1939 

